Combined tire-pressure indicator and signal.



C. C. CLEVELAND. COMBINED TINE PRESSURE INDICATOR AND SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 6,1912.

lPatfntfed Sept. 2, 1913.

2 SHBETS-SHBET www@ @om C. C. CLEVELAND.

COMBINED MDB PRESSURE INDICATOR AND SIGNAL.

APPLUJATION FILED APR. 6, i012 Patented Sept. 2, 1913,

2 SHEETSSHILET Z A@ M @wv/.2

too soft for use without serious; dimmed CHARLES i3, CLEVLNL' Spccicatin of Leiten i' imite@ Sept. 2, 193.3.

Be it known time l', CHARLES f. 'bm-:wx LAND, a citizen of tlie tlmted s, mehr mg at Boulder, in the oo'iu'ity of loulder and State of Colo-fado, lieve invented oei` tain new and useful lmnn'ivenieus ii C3ii1- billed Tire-Pressure indicators and Signals; and I do declare the following to be a full, elem', and exact. deeeriptioii of the ism-erh tion, Such as will. enable others skilled in the art to which ity appending: to make and use the same, reference being had to tile ai oompunying drawings, und te the oiiamieteie of ieferenoe mui-lied tlieieoii, which forli/i e.

part of this speciientionw My invention teintes to ,iiopiovemenle in devices adapted to notify the charge of the vehicle when tire lost sufficient amounto'f air to iequiiie ieirgiw tion.

It is well known that the of a Softtii'e is exceedingly injurious to the iie mid it very often happens that a machine, an automobile, will be rim a consideiabie distance after one o1' more of the tires me Where my improved co-naiiuctiou ployed, provision is :na-de for producir alarm as soon :is the presente on tile iiiiieitube oi the tire is reduced beyond i pi tei-.mined limit.

My improved device is of suoli consiiiietion that as soon as the tii'e yields suciently to indicate that its loss of air has reached the danger limit, a normally locked hammer will lie released and act upon im plosive cap mounted upon a whereby the Cap ie exploded with suiiicieo noise to notify the person in Cim. e of t' machine.

of the device .by the foi-ce' of explosion of the cap, the said indicator ciently tightly in the end of the device to maintain .its position of adjustment. ln other words, when the indieeor is drivei oui. and exposed :it the free exieiiiity oit the devioe by tile expo ive few@ reeilltiii l fiom iileiQQSiGn of sa?, it will At the 'smile time am indicator driven out of the exposed oi: iiee exil-emityY time ii 'met will when iii. nomi-(ii f A-ue ii'iiiiiitniued, the tire a e i iiiggiftiizied iiemloer holds tile meer in mail poeiiliozi that it looks a l'iziiimei' noted mi by iii/- mime ming against exgilode a @iii mounted mi i when liowewif, the pressure man e` piedeteij ille part of the d0- vice which i Conidi therewith is allowed to indent the ifo, Spying-actuated loci(- iiigfle'vii'e moin iimmmei mid prodnfo ii al lin-)Mig of *die tif* bei mined degree improved corvo fiesei'ille the smile iliade io the m:- iiicii illustrated mer. In this View, the position of the parts is that immediately after the release and before the hammer has been driven by the spring into contact With the cap. Fig- 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating a tool for use in assembling the parts of my improved device in connection With a wheel whose tire is to be protected. Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on the linel 5 5 Fig. 4, the parts being shown on a larger scale. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a slightly modified form of construction. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken upon the line 7 7, Fig. 6.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral gdesignate a tube considered in its entirety, the same being inserted in an openingv 6 formed in the rim 7 of a Wheel, the tube being equipped with a lnut 4 threaded thereon to engagement with the rim, this rim having an out'er metallic band 11 provided with a registering opening 8 through which the tube also passes. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the rim of the wheel is equipped with a laterally movable band 9 upon which the tire 10 is mounted. In constructions of this character, the tire is applied to the member 9, a't'ter which this member is put in place upon the band 7 of the rim and suitably secured against lateral movement, In Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing, my improved device is shown applied to wheels vhaving this laterally-movable tire-holding member. This member 9 has an opening 12 which the inncr extremity of the tube 5 enters, a head 13 having a threaded nipple 14 threaded into the inner extremity of the tube, the head having a shoulder 15 engaging the inner end of the tube. The head also extends laterally beyond the circumference ofthe tube, as shown at 16, and engages the tireholding member 9. Through this nipple, which 1s open for the purpose, passes an enlarged extremity 17 of a rod 18, this enlarged extremity having a reduced threaded end 19 to which is applied a nut 20 forming a cap whose inner extremity is smooth and comes in direct contact with the inner tube 21 -of the tire. When the latter is inflated .to the desired degree, itl acts to hold the cap flush, or approximately flush, with the head 13 of the tube. VIn this event a collar 22 located at the outer extremity of the part 17 of the rod and ot sutlicient size to till the tube, is held away from the outer extremity of the head 13, a space 23 being in this event left between the collarand the threaded nipple of the said head.

The rod 18 beyond the collar 22 is surrounded by a spiral spring 24, one extremity of which acts upon the collar while the other extremity acts upon the shoulder 25 of a hammer 20, thc .said .shoulder being formed at the junction of the head 27 of the hammer and its hollov7 stem or shank 58, into which the rod 1S telescopes freely. Withinlthe head 27 of the hammer is located alaterally movable dog 28 which is exteriorly beveled at one extremity as shown at 29, 'the said bevel, when the dog is in position to lock the hammer against movement, being in engagement with a correspondingly beveled part 3() of theI tube 5, the said beveled part being adjacent an opening 31 in the tube which the beveled end of the dog enters when the hammer is.in the locked position. i This dog is provided with a recess 61 adapted to receive the outer extremity of the rod 18 which locks the dogv in position to secure the hammer against acting on the cap. Adjacent the recess 61 is an interiorly-located beveled wall 32 formed on the dog and on which the outer extremity of the rod,18 acts when the hammer is forced inwardly by means of a tool 33 having a shank 34 of -a size to enter the tube and an exposed knob 35 for convenience of manipulation. The outer extremity of the hammer is provided -with a hollow steel member 36 adapted to engagethe head .37 of an explosive cap 38 which is applied to the inner extremity 39' of a firing pin 40 which is threaded into arccess 41 formed in the inner extremity of Va plug 12, the latter being threaded into the outer extremity'o the tube l5 as shown at 43. This plug has a longitudinal bore 63 in which is inserted an indicating pin 44 which normally fits the bore sufliciently tightly tomaintain its inward position until the cap is exploded, in which event. the force of the explosion drives the indicating pin outwardly (see Fig. 2), in which position it remains until readjusted by design. This protruding position of the indicating pin is visual evidence to the person in charge of the machine that the softened tire, which resulted in the' explosion of the cap andthe giving of the signal, belongs to a particular' wheel. This `is an important feature, since the audible signal will not usually indicate to the chauffeur with sutiicient accuracy the particular wheel containing the partially deiiated tire.

In order4 that the force of the cap explosion may act upon t-he indicating pin, the tiring-pin is provided with a longitudinal perforation 45 which is in 'communication with the bore 63 in which the indicating pin is located. Vv'hen the indicating pin is in its inward position (see Figs. 1 and 6) its head er outer extremity 40 is counter-sunk in a re.

cess 47 formed in the outer extremity of .the plug 42, thus giving the outer extremity of the plug normally a smooth and` uninterrupted surface, the exposed extremity of the .plug being preferably rounded as shown From the foregoing description, the use Bti and Operation (if my improved tire-pressure-indicator and signai wiii be readliy nnderstoed.

viren the inner nhe 21 has; the nerniai er predetermined degree of air presnire, hf,

hammer 2G is ieeked to prevent its mereV nient te explode the earn hv the enter e\1- tremitv of the rod i8 whit-,h engages the reeess (S1 of the den' and hoids the hitter in auch position that ene of its extremities engages the opening` 31 fermed in the tube This position of the dog prevents the movement (if the hummer in resp0n ey to the action of the spring 2i since the pressure if the Spring 0n the hammer Cannot, aetuate the iatter withouty the movement et the dog in a iaterai direetien sniieientiy tu disengage the deg from the openingr :2i ei the tube, and this movement the de; ranno?, make as iene' as the enter extremitvv et' the, red 1S engares the hntt'em ei the re eess (il, ainee the mitteln ef this` reeens is in'tzted siightiy heinw the interim' heveied i'fiee 32 nf the (ieg. However, as Sonn as; the pressure within the inner tnhe Qi is redneed sniiieientiv te niiew the ea i 2O tu! indent the tire (See Fig'. Ii) sniiieientiy tu iiseneage the enter extremitlvref the rmi i'rnni the reet-ss, (ii et the ting', the eniiar 2i! wiii df'eixpy a position in enntaet with the enter extremity ef the hippie 1i of the heini iii, thm preventing' the further inward mmenient et the reti. the reeoii aetimi it the sp1-ine 24 wiiirii has been oniy siightiv expended in Causing: inward movement of the rmi, wiii net en the hammer to drive the hitter t'ereibiy outwardiy in the tube, e: ne

ing it te strike the cap 3S and expiede the t same (nee Fifi. The feree of this expieiont as heretefere expiziined, wiii :iet:

npen the indicatingr pin 4i te anse the iat ter te pretrnfie beyond the (Inter extreinirl ni" the ping 4x2 of the tnhe` The noise re lwlitie from the expiesion nf the rap v-ii liii when he Stops the machine :ind examinwI the iiiiierent wheeis, xviii knew that thel sett tire is on a partieuiar wheei from the fart that the indieatiner pin 44 extends he .venti the end 0f, the Ding 455 et the tievire nn the wheel in question.

Ai'ter the partially detiated rire has heen audible signa] te the Chauffeur. who.

restered te its normui condition, in order te reAset the hammer and prepare the derive ter a Seremi Sienai.y it is eniy neeeesary te nnserew the ping' 42 and i1i ertr the Shankv :it et the toni Zii in the open extremity ei the lube 5 and fereey the hammer inwnrtii'v. AS snen as the beveled fare 32 et' the (ieg 3S engages the enter extremitv (if the rmi iS" Continued inward preusnre un the ham- 5 mer Wiii citrine the dog te he thi-net iateraiilv inte the npening 3i ef the tube` simni taneeusiy Ywith the entrance of the outer exi tremityef the red 18 te the reces (31.

een as this (it-emay the hammer- Wiii Sie inf-hed in pnsitien against movement; fis the 'nresrgnre within the in'iateii tithe tirient tn prevent the inward iii-fwei'neiit r the red ih whieh in Iieeeesary te reiealse the yZ iianin'ier. in appivinf the @eviee te the rifn nf' a Wheei. the miie is elan'ipefi therein between the mit i and the h ad i3, the nut being' adir ,taiiie tn maintain the tnhe ie enreiy in piaceY 1, if,

in thD instruction rhewn in Figs. i te lfiinclus i demenntahie rim i9, einphiymi in the eenstruetien shown in iiig. V. :z sn eaied Sniiei rim is used. in this rasta the rire-hunting mernher et' the rin` if; gierinanentiv Sernred te the rnemier :'-i them-f wherehy the tireinihiing nirniher rtfzniiiv renmvahie es in the ether eewtrnetinn. The enir" 'iiiierenee mi "etinn et' niv inn'rnwfzi dern@ empirrved en the rim shewn in itin t?, een etre in the ffnet that the tnhe 5 may haw an integral hea/i instead ef :i detaeh: hir heed iii. as sinnvn in the ether fer i eeniitrneliun. in the rrnrstrnetinn dimm Figa. i in `i in eriier te rennwe the ne innnntfihe nirinher 1) et' the rien the tnt-,i- I) min-1t he iifz-:mnntted frein the heart ,ifi vivra-enfin; the une part freni the when this in linne. the ineinher fi way he =k i, tannin-tied freni the hmiy eta the rim in' :i interni mmement. the iiezni i et the iii remaining' in the dennnmtzzhie rinrine it iii he Understtmd that when the tn reninreii te perniiit the denienntingr ei' the Re? rinrmeniher ii, the rnd i8 wiii aim he en :wreweti tre-m its :ap 20. TWhen thisy tiene, the reinfn'ai of the member 11i nt' the ri ie' not nhstrneteti in ainY wav hy improved tieviee. Vfhere the forni n" er ft|n1iien Shawn in Figi. this einY l nire wii he inserted in the rim if: Y

' en and trein the Ste si 'iiiie he:

trliii'' tu!! 1,111 i9;

' rim meinn te wi tighi in tin? i im hammer :in:

i im nien a inntitndinalir threzmjimut n perth' ieneth m" the tnhe See i`i r t) te' 'iiied my inrentxnn, what i riaim it i. in a tire-presfnre eignai, the eezni'in: tier. with :i wh'ei-riin and tire, ni' n tina menned nn the rim, u tirefengeginej uit, her nin interi in the tuiie nud eap )ie of i iiiniteci degree 0f movement tewzn'u 'the xine 31 .fifinnier aie@ mounted in the intet .bpring iiaving thus deny interposed lbetween the said member and said hammer, means governed by the said member for locking the hammer against `movement ',when the tire is under normal predetermined pressure, and for releasing the hammer when the said member moves due to `a yreduetioxrofY tire pressure, and means located inthe tai-be and acted on by the released hammer for producing a signal.

2. The combinatioifwith a wheel-rim and tire otfa tube mounted on the rim, a membeelocated in the tube`having one extremity in engz'lgement with the tire and capable of a limited degree ef movement toward the tire when the normalpressure ot the latter is reduced, a hammer also llocated in the tube, a spring interposed between the said hammer and the sani member, a dog carried by the hammer and engaged by a part of said member for locking the `hammer against movement when the said member is held against movement. toward the tire by the normal tire-pressure, said dog being released and unlocking the hammer when the tire-engaging member moves toward the tire, and means located iu the tube and acted on by thetreleased hammer -for producing a signal, substantially as described.

3. The combination with awheel-rini and tire o/a tube mounted on the rim and open at its extremity nearest the tire, a member carried by the tube and having one extremity in engagement with the tire, the said member having a limited degreeot movement toward the tire when the norrral `pres= sure of the latter is reduced, a hammer also located in the tube, a spring interposed between the tire-engaging member and the iammer, the tension of the spring being less than the normal predetermined pressure of the tire, a dog carried by the [hammer and movable to engage an opening formed in the iube whereby the ham'mer is locked against movement, the said dog having a recess which is engaged by one extremity ot' the tire-engaging member when the tire is under normal pressure, said dog being releafed and the hammer unlocked when the engaging member moves toward the tire. a firing-pin located in the tube and` an explosive cap carried bythe pin and adapted to be acted on by the released hammer, substantially as described.

ft. llhe combination with a wheel-rim and tire, of, a tube mounted on the rim, a rod .located in the tube and having one extremity in engagement with the tire, a hammer also located in the tube, a spring interposed between the tire-engaging rod and the hammer, means adaptedy to be acted upon by the extremity ot' the rod remote from the tire for locking the hammer against movement when the red isheld against movement toward the'tire by the pressure of the latter, a firing-pin located within the tube and arranged in the path of the hammer when the latter is released, an explosive cap mounted on the said pin', said tube having an opening in its free extremity and an indicating pin mounted in the tube and adapted to protrude under the force of the caps explosion, substantially as described.

. 5. The combination with a Wheel-rim and I tire of ay tube mounted on the rim, a rod located in the tube and having one extremity in engagement with the tire, a hammer also mounted in the tube, av spring interposed between the rod and hammer, means 6. The combination with a wheel-rim and tire ot a tube mounted onu the rim, a rod carried by the tube and having one extremity in engagement with the tire, the rod being capable of a limited degree of movement toward the tire when the normal pressure of the latter is reduced, a hammer also located in the tube, the hammer having a hollow'stem which the tire-engaging rod enters, a dog located in the head of the hammer and laterally movable, the said dog having'a recess adapted to receive the other extremity of the rod, the tube having an open-ing one wall of which is beveled and the dog having a coperating beveled face, a spring surrounding the hollow Stem of the hammer, one extremity of the spring acting on the rod while the other extremity acts on the hammer, and means located in the tube and located in the path of the hammer when releasedfor producing an alarm, substantially as described.

7., The combination with a wheel-rim and tire of a tube mounted on the rim, one extremity of the tube having a head engaging the rim on the tire side, a nut applied to the tube and engaging the rim on the opposite side whereby the tube is clamped to the rim, a member located within the tube and having one extremity in engagement with the tire, a hammer also located in the tube, a spring interposed between the said member and the said hammer, means acted pin carried by the plug and adapted to re-4 eeive an explosive cap located in the path of l In testin'iony whereof I affix my signature the released hammer, and an indicating-pin in presence of two witnesses.

loeated in the perforation of the plug and arranged to be acted on by the explosive CHARLES C. CLEVELAND.

force of the cap, whereby the indicating pin is vCaused to protrude from the plug under l Witnesses: the force of the eaps explosion, substantially A. J. OBRIEN, as described. A. E. ADAMS. 

